Tank splash plate



May 16, 1933. F. G- THWAITS 1,909,734

ATANK SPLASH PLATE Filed June 24 1929 Patented May 16, 1933 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK G. THWAITS, OF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR TO 'THE HE'IL CO., OF

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN v TANK SPLASHl PLATEApplication led June 24,

The object of the present invention is to provide tank splash plates fortank truc-ks used in carrying oil, gasoline and other liquids.

A further object of the invention is to pro- Vide a tank splash platefor tank trucks which will minimize the shock of the weight of themoving liquid in starting and stopping the truck and in turning cornersas well as the wear and strain on the trucks, parts and tires.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide tank splash plateswhich are attached to their supports in a manner to permit slightturning movement thereon when subjected to strain to eliminate thestrain being transferred to the supporting members and loosening of saidsupports from the partitions and heads.

With the above and other objects in view the invention relates to theimproved splash plates for tank trucks and their parts and combinationsas set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

Referring to the annexed drawing in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a tank equipped withthe preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of my device;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 vshowing the same modification.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the reference numeral 1 designatesthe usual tank, which in the present instance, is divided intotransverse compartments 3 by partitions 2. Welded to the face of eachpartition and also to each end wall of the tank is a pair of parallelangle irons 4 and extending longitudinally of the compartments and'bolted to the angle irons is a pair of longitudinal angle ironsupporting members 5. Welded to each pair of angle irons and suspendedwithin each compartment is a splash plate 6 which is longitudinallycurved to present a convex face towards one side of the tank and aconcave 1929.` Serial Noi. 373,174.

surface towards `the lother side of the tank.

rIhe upper and lower edges of the splash plate terminate short of theupper and lower surfaces of the tank.V The bolts connectingthe ironstogether are positioned' in vertical alinement in pairs to permit aslight turningof the ends of the longitudinal angle irons on the boltswhen the plates are subjected to strain causing slight distortionthereof, thus eliminating twisting of the parallel'irons 4. j

With this construction, it will be observed that the splashorbaffle-plate 6 will resist the movement of liquid (caused by theswinging and jouncing of the vehicle) toward opposite sides of the tank,but this resistance to the movement of the liquid will not be abrupt andpositive, as the curved faces of the plate will cause the liquid toslide off the edges of the plate. As it moves or splashes against theconvex side of the plate, the liquid will be caused to move in a curvedpath over the top edge as well as over the lower edge of the plate, andpractically the same actionwilltake place on the concaved side of theplate, so that the plate will thereby be relieved of the impact or forceof the movement of the liquid to a large extent. In actual practice,these curved plates will serve to greatly reduce the churning of theliquid during transportation and will also reduce injury to the tank toa minimum. It has also been found in actual practice that making theplates curved to present a convex surface toward one side and a concavesurface toward the other side so greatly reduces the force of the impactor push of the liquid that the liability to breakage of the plates fromtheir supports is greatly reduced.

In the modified form of device, the plates are arranged transversely ofthe tank, this form of device being particularly desirable where thetank is not provide-d with transverse partitions. In some cases, I mayarrange in the same tank transverse as well as longitudinalsplash-plates.

What is claimed as new is 1. A splash plate structure for tanks,comprising, horizontally alined upper flanges projecting inwardly fromthe opposite walls of the tank, horizontally alined lower flangesprojecting` inwardly from said opposite tank walls and cooperating withsaid upper flanges to provide superimposed sets, an upper supporting barresting upon said upper flanges, a lower` supporting bar resting uponsaid lower flanges, alined retaining bolts e'oacting with each set` ofsaid flanges and with the adjacent bar ends, and a splash plate'attached 2. A splash platestructure for tanks, comprising, horizontallyalined parallel upper flanges projecting inwardly fromv the opp'oLA sitewalls of a tank, horizontally alined parallel lower flanges projecting'inwardly from' said opposite tank walls and cooperating with upperflanges to provide vertically superimposed sets, upper and lowerparallel supporting b'ar's resting' upon said upper and lower' flangesrespeetivelyalined retaining bolts `t'iir'ria'lo'ly connecting thecorresponding ends of saidrb'ars with each set'of said flanges, andsplash plate attached to both of said bars' andI eXten'ding upwardly'and downwardly beyond the saine.

v Y Intestinonywhereof, IafliX i'ny signature.

FREDERICK e'. THWAITS,

